Dive into the history of water features

By Emma Peterson. 

From ancient Mesopotamia to the palaces of Versailles to a light show in Singapore, water features and fountains have long captivated our attentions.  

Humans have long been enamored with water and there’s research showing why we have such a connection to these spaces. An article in the Landscape and Urban Planning journal explains, “Multiple studies have shown that coastal proximity is positively associated with general health, mental health and physical activity. [Further,] highly visible oceanic and freshwater blue spaces were related to lower levels of psychological distress [and] the frequency and duration of visiting blue spaces were positively associated with psychological benefits and social interactions.” This would explain the long history humans have across cultures and ages of creating our own water features. So, when was the first water feature created?  

Ancient history 

Some of the earliest records we have of fountains come from ancient ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt (around 3000 BC). In Mesopotamia, these fountains were “simple structures used in temple gardens to provide a source of water and symbolized life and abundance, and were integral to the lush, sacred spaces of the time.” As for Egypt, fountains were often found in the gardens of the wealthy, providing both a cooling effect to the area and a beautiful centerpiece.  

Moving forward to Greece and Rome (around 600 to 300 BC), fountains became more common. This is largely due to the aqueduct system that moved fresh water around the city efficiently. The Romans built on the foundation of aqueducts and fountains that the Greeks built and “by 98 AD, Rome had been nicknamed the “city of fountains” having nine aqueducts, 39 monumental fountains and 591 public basins. [Later], by the first century BC, Roman fountains jetted water into the air via water pressure from a distant water source." 

Medieval times 

During the Middle Ages in Europe, fountains retained a place of admiration, but were not very common outside of art, monasteries and palaces. However, across the world, fountains and water features were still popular design features, “In the Islamic world, fountains became central elements of garden design. These Islamic gardens were characterized by their tranquil, reflective pools and intricately designed water channels, creating oases of calm and beauty.” 

And Western Europe eventually did come back to the fountain during the Renaissance period. Water Gallery explains, “Fountains became larger, more complex and grand during the Renaissance Era. During this time, fountains paid tribute to rulers and royalty and were symbols of power or wealth. Many of the famous fountains in Europe today were built during this Renaissance time including the one in Villa d'Este in Tivoli.” 

The Baroque period (1600s and 1700s) saw the construction of many of the classic fountains that still draw visitors today, such as the stunning fountains at the Palace of Versailles in France, the Piazza Navona Fountain and the Triton Fountain. The prevalence and importance of fountains in this period can be seen in many pieces of writing. The National Gallery of Art shares, “Numerous European treatises stressed the fountain as a principal ornament of the garden. Its popularity was attested to by its frequent use in both European and American gardens.” This is also when we see the term fountain begin to emerge in American architecture and designs, despite the general rarity of finding such a creation in the New World.  

American era (late 1800s and 1900s) 

Fountains prior to the 1800s were quite rare in American gardens. In fact, there are just two references to them from the 18th century, “William Byrd II's 1732 account of the fountain at Colonel Alexander Spotswood’s estate, near Germanna, Virginia, and James Thacher’s 1830 recollections of a visit some 42 years earlier to Colonel Thaddeus Kosciusko’s garden at West Point, New York.” 

It wasn’t until the introduction of city water systems in the 1820s, that fountains and water features became more common and publicly accessible. These fountains became a source of civic pride and tended to vary is scale. “From a single spout of water, such as the jet rising from a still-water basin at Belfield, to the large civic sponsored displays of City Hall Park and Union Square in New York, and the Cochituate Fountain on Boston Common.” 

Modern fountains 

Today, fountains can be found around the world in a variety of spaces, from private property that harkens back to the palaces of the Baroque era to public parks that call back to the Romans and their aqueducts. Further advancements in technology have allowed engineers and designers to synchronize fountains to music and colored lights, creating iconic water shows such as the Bellagio Fountain in Las Vegas, Nevada or the Marina Bay Sands' Spectra show in Singapore. 

While fountains have changed in form over the centuries, they still captivate our attention. Whether it’s a calming bubbling in a backyard or a flashy show, fountains create a powerful “intersection of nature, art and technology [that is a] timeless testament to human ingenuity and our enduring love for the beauty and tranquility of flowing water.” 

Image sources in order of appearance: National Gallery of Art (cover), SunnyDaze Decor, Water Gallery, National Gallery of Art and Bellagio Las Vegas